Older hens killing 11 week old chicks

[Yardraptor]

I am having a very hard time integrating my chicks with the older hens this time. I started with what we always do and put a covered pen inside the coop so the older hens can see them but cannot touch them. Then I removed the pen but still kept separate water and feed for the chicks. The older hens pecked one of the chicks so bad that we had to glue her head back together. She healed after being separated and we put her out with her flock mates at night to ease the transition. After two days, she was attacked so badly they even ate the flesh. We have doctored her up but after two days, it doesn’t look like she is going to make it. She was the sweetest of the chicks. Now they are attacking the next sweetest chick and have pecked her head. I know there is at least one bully and I just took her out and put her into her own timeout but I think there may be others. This has been awful. They have plenty of space. Any thoughts on other actions I can take to protect the remaining three chicks?

 

[nuthatched]

How long were they separated?

 

[WingItRanch]

How many hens vs how many chicks? The closer to even the number it is, the easier. You may have to the look but no touch method until they're full sized and can defend and run away better. Make sure your run has plenty of places to hide and jump away from the hens. Logs, perches, etc.

 

[RubelliteRose]

I am so sorry about your chicks How long did you have them separated before integrating? I keep mine separated in a look but don't touch setup until all the adults completely ignore the new chicks. This year it only took a week to integrate 5 week old chicks, but one year it took over 3 weeks before one of my hens stopped trying to murder the chicks through the fence. Once she started to ignore them, I was able to release the chicks with no further issues.

 

[Yardraptor]

I am so sorry about your chicks How long did you have them separated before integrating? I keep mine separated in a look but don't touch setup until all the adults completely ignore the new chicks. This year it only took a week to integrate 5 week old chicks, but one year it took over 3 weeks before one of my hens stopped trying to murder the chicks through the fence. Once she started to ignore them, I was able to release the chicks with no further issues.

I had them separated for 3 days. In the past that was long enough but that doesn’t seem to be the case this time.

 

[Yardraptor]

How many hens vs how many chicks? The closer to even the number it is, the easier. You may have to the look but no touch method until they're full sized and can defend and run away better. Make sure your run has plenty of places to hide and jump away from the hens. Logs, perches, etc.

6 hens, 4 chicks

 

[Yardraptor]

Should I separate them all again into a look but don’t touch situation? I’m so incredibly sad about my dark Brahma.

 

[WingItRanch]

Oh. 3 days isn't really enough in my experience. I separate them but they are able to see each other for at least 4 weeks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I keep mine separated in a look but don't touch setup until all the adults completely ignore the new chicks.

This is key. Unlikely that would happen in only 3 days, especially with 11 week olds which are big enough to look more like a threat vs 11 day old chicks, which are less likely to be seen as a threat.

At minimum I'd give it 1-2 weeks. And if you don't already have ample clutter in the run, clutter it up (and if you do, move everything around to confuse things a bit before you release the younger birds).

 

[Yardraptor]

Oh. 3 days isn't really enough in my experience. I separate them but they are able to see each other for at least 4 weeks.

What is your set up? I use a pen for the chicks but it doesn’t allow the chicks to go vertical at all.